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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to funding for the continuing education of certain peace |
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officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 772.006, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The criminal justice division shall administer a grant |
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program under which grants are awarded to support local law |
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enforcement agencies in this state in providing for the continuing |
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education of persons licensed under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code. |
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Amounts awarded under this subsection: |
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(1) must be based on need, as determined by the |
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criminal justice division; and |
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(2) are in addition to amounts reimbursed under |
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Section 1701.157, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 1701.157(a) and (b), Occupations Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Not later than March 1 of each calendar year, the |
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comptroller shall allocate money deposited during the preceding |
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calendar year in the general revenue fund to the credit of the law |
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enforcement officer standards and education fund account for |
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expenses related to the continuing education of persons licensed |
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under this chapter as follows: |
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(1) 20 percent of the money is allocated to [all] local |
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law enforcement agencies in this state that meet the eligibility |
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requirements described by Subsection (b) in equal shares; and |
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(2) 80 percent of the money is allocated to [all] local |
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law enforcement agencies in this state that meet the eligibility |
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requirements described by Subsection (b) in a share representing a |
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fixed amount for each position in the agency, as of January 1 of the |
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preceding calendar year, that is reserved to a person who: |
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(A) is licensed under this chapter; |
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(B) works as a peace officer on the average of at |
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least 32 hours a week; and |
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(C) is compensated by a political subdivision of |
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this state at least at the minimum wage and is entitled to all |
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employee benefits offered to a peace officer by the political |
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subdivision. |
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(b) To be eligible for an allocation of money under |
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Subsection (a), a [Not later than November 1 of each calendar year,
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each] local law enforcement agency must [shall] report to the |
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comptroller not later than November 1 of the preceding calendar |
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year: |
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(1) the number of agency positions described by |
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Subsection (a)(2) reserved as of January 1 of the calendar [that] |
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year covered by the report; |
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(2) the number of agency positions described by |
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Subsection (a)(2) filled as of January 1 of the calendar year |
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covered by the report; |
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(3) the percentage of any money received by the agency |
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under Subsection (a) in the calendar year covered by the report used |
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by the agency during that year; |
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(4) the number of training hours received through the |
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use of any money received by the agency under Subsection (a) in the |
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calendar year covered by the report; and |
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(5) that the agency has complied with all applicable |
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laws regarding the use of any money received by the agency under |
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Subsection (a) in the calendar year covered by the report. |
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SECTION 3. (a) If funds are available for that purpose, the |
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criminal justice division of the governor's office shall award the |
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first grants under Section 772.006(d), Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, in the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2007. |
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(b) The changes in law made by this Act to Section 1701.157, |
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Occupations Code, apply to allocations made on or after January 1, |
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2008, for expenses incurred by local law enforcement agencies |
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during calendar year 2007. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |